A project that has been in the works since 2001 will be named after a retiring U.S. Senator.

The East Locust Creek Reservoir will be renamed the Roy Blunt Reservoir, after U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).

Construction of the project is expected to start next year.

The new reservoir will be five miles north of Milan, Mo., in what used to be the commnity of Boynton, Mo.

It will have 81 miles of shoreline and will help serve 10 counties by producing seven million gallons of water a day.

After learning the reservoir will be named after him, Blunt released a statement.

“I’m very grateful to the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission for this honor," Sen. Blunt stated. "I want to thank everyone in the community, both past and present, who helped make this project a reality. When you don’t have a reliable water supply, it’s difficult for families, farmers, businesses, and school districts to plan for the future. The reservoir will help provide that certainty, improving the quality of life and strengthening economic development. I am committed to ensuring the federal government continues to make this project a priority.”

The full release can be found below.